Ahead of tomorrow’s election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday afternoon began the distribution of sensitive election materials in readiness for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. LEADERSHIP Friday observed the materials as they were moved from the Ado Ekiti Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the headquarters of each of the 16 local government areas of the state, amid fully armed security men. As at 1pm on Thursday, a long queue of INEC delivery vans were sighted at the Ado-Ekiti branch of the CBN, waiting for their turns. The premise of the CBN in the state capital was cordoned off and the distribution centre throughout the process. Some of the security agents, who accompanied the conveying vehicles to the local governments, were also equally armed to the teeth. INEC spokesman in Ekiti State, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, confirmed the development to LEADERSHIP Friday. Gbadegesin said that apart from providing heavy security to secure the materials, INEC is also tracking all the vehicles that conveyed them so as to guide against possible influx or hijack. He said, “All we are doing is to maintain our stand on transparency and openness, even as we also guide against infiltration.”

“The other reason why we are keeping to our plans and programmes is that we do not want any failure, especially on issues concerning late arrival of voting materials at all venues.”